Scotch

Berry Bros. & Rudd Undisclosed Islay 2007 (Cask #10009) Review

Experience the intense smoky allure of Berry Bros. & Rudd's 18-Year Islay whisky. With sherried sweetness and a lingering ashy finish, this limited release offers a perfect peat-sweet balance for smoky whisky enthusiasts.

OVERALL RATING

10
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Tasting Notes

About:

An 18 Year Old malt originating from an undisclosed Islay distillery, released as part of independent bottler Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Single Cask: Crafted in Cask collection. Distilled in 2007, and matured for 18 years in a Butt, before a finishing period in an Oloroso sherry cask. Only 667 bottles were produced, bottled without artificial colouring or chill filtration at natural cask strength of 55.5% ABV.
Appearance:
Bright Gold
Nose:
Intense ashy peat smoke opens, covering dried fruits. There are hints of slightly musty old leather-bound books and rich tobacco, before a touch of sea air and salt.
Palate:
Sherried sweetness opens, although with a slightly thinner and oilier mouthfeel than expected. Sherried raisins and dates are followed by notes of milk chocolate and toffee before nutty influences of almond and nutmeg. Sherry and sweetness fade becoming more earthy with notes of tobacco leaf and a touch of peat minerality.
Finish:
Long, with lingering ashy bonfire smoke embers and tobacco, with final notes of chocolate and dried fruits. At the close becomes slightly briny.
Comments:
At times, independent bottlers such as Berry Bros. & Rudd come across casks of whisky where for varying reasons, they are unable to disclose the distillery of origin. This Berry Bros. & Rudd Undisclosed Islay is one such example – deemed just to good to go unreleased.

I love the ashy smoke, which hits intensely on the nose and lingers until the close. The Oloroso sherry cask finishing imparts a peat-sweet balance by integrating notes of dried fruits and chocolate which temper the ashy smoke and earthy tobacco. This is a great example of an 18-Year-Old Islay whisky, which I feel offers value for money given the older age statement and it is a single cask release bottled at cask strength. Smoky whisky fans who enjoy some sherry cask influence will love this moreish dram. One of the standout bottlings for me in Berry Bros. & Rudd’s: Crafted in Cask collection – this is the one I’ve bought!

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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